Robert Lawson, Illustrator: A selection of his characteristic illustrations

In the future when the question is asked, “Who were the illustrators who made a lasting impression on books published in the twentieth century?” one of the first names that is sure to be mentioned is Robert Lawson.

As Helen Jones, Mr. Lawson’s editor at Little, Brown and Company, says in her introduction, “If a capacity to take infinite pains is the mark of genius…then Robert Lawson’s genius is unquestionable. He took pains with each line he drew, each background he textured, each detail he represented.”

In addition to Mr. Lawson’s perfectionism, the great appeal of his illustrations arises from his direct and honest approach to both his subject and his readers. Books like Ferdinand, Ben and Me, Rabbit Hill, and Mr. Popper’s Penguins remain as fresh today as the day they were published. It is hoped that this book will show why.

– from the jacket cover